Facilities

On the ground floor, visitors will find the reception, café, and all wet-side amenities, including a 25-metre, six-lane swimming pool with a partially movable floor. The changing areas are designed for a wide range of users, with both wet and dry change facilities, “Changing Places” provision, and group changing rooms.

The first floor houses the dry-side facilities, including a fitness suite with 41 training stations and two multi-purpose studios, which are separated by a sliding partition to allow flexible use for group exercise, dance, and other activities. The building also includes a meeting room, office spaces, technical rooms, and a café with seating and views over the pool. Outside, a newly landscaped park with play facilities adds to the community value.

Sustainable and future-proof design
The Whitchurch Swimming and Fitness Centre has been designed with a focus on efficiency, comfort, and sustainability. The fully electric building is heated and cooled using air-source heat pumps and powered by solar panels, significantly reducing carbon emissions. On-site electric vehicle (EV) charging points support cleaner transport options. High-performance, energy-efficient materials have been used throughout the construction, including triple glazing, aluminium window frames, Kingspan façade panels, precast concrete elements and a brick-clad finish. Inside, durable and sustainable finishes have been applied, such as ceramic tiling, sports flooring, acoustic ceilings and LVT flooring – a low-maintenance, water-resistant solution well suited to high-traffic areas. With a thoughtful layout, accessible design features, and flexible spaces, the centre not only promotes physical activity but also contributes to social inclusion and the long-term wellbeing of the wider community.

Collaboration

This project was made possible through close collaboration with our partners: Alliance Leisure, Shropshire Council, Design Active, Axiom Project Services, Roberts Limbrick Architects, Furness Partnership, and CGP | MEP.

Extensive sports and swimming facilities

The new centre features an 8-lane 25-metre competition pool with movable floor, and a spectator gallery with seating for 300 people. There is also a combined learner and diving pool of 4.5 metres deep, also with a movable floor, and with diving platforms of 3 and 5 metres high. The interactive water play areas (splash pads), completes the aquatic offering.

Facilities for everyone

Beyond the swimming facilities, the complex includes a modern 6-court sports hall with seating for 250 spectators. Other facilities include a 120-station fitness suite, three studios, a soft play area, and a café that also serves as an information point. Accessibility and comfort are key priorities, with 188 parking spaces, 14 charging points for electric vehicles, and 40 bicycle spaces.

Sustainability at the core

The project has been delivered in line with the BREEAM 2018 Excellent sustainability standard. Its energy supply is largely based on renewable sources, including air source heat pumps, with only a minimal gas connection as a back-up. A smart building envelope and efficient installations have resulted in an impressive 49.5% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to the old building. In addition, the roof accommodates no fewer than 1,660 m² of solar panels.

A regional benchmark in sport and sustainability

By combining modern sports facilities with leading-edge sustainability measures, the new Rivermead Leisure Centre sets a regional benchmark for sports, leisure, and health in Reading and beyond.

Our 200th project In Germany

This sports complex marks a significant milestone: the 200th project in Germany. We are proud of this achievement – not just because of the number, but above all because this project perfectly reflects what we stand for as a construction partner: building smart, sustainably, and with a strong focus on the future. All of this was achieved in close cooperation with all stakeholders and within a tight schedule. It is hard to imagine a better way to celebrate such an anniversary.

A pioneer in timber construction

This project is the first swimming pool in Germany to be built almost entirely out of timber. The building uses 275 m³ of timber, which stores the same amount of CO₂ as 208.5 tonnes of greenhouse gases. This shows that building in a sustainable and climate-friendly way really works. By using timber instead of concrete or steel for the main structure (walls, roof, columns, and beams), the project prevented 250.5 tonnes of CO₂ from being released into the atmosphere. Remarkably, the timber used regrows in less than nine minutes – a powerful illustration of renewability.

Energy-efficient and smart

The complex has been designed with full energy awareness. The building’s energy system combines solar panels, a heat pump, and an efficient water heating network. Together, these technologies make sure that energy is used in the smartest possible way. All areas, including the sports hall, are mechanically ventilated with heat recovery, and underfloor heating has been installed throughout the building.

The pool is equipped with a high-standard water treatment system that makes it possible to clean and reuse the pool water. Underground tanks also collect rainwater and slowly release it into the canal, helping to prevent flooding. This prevents peak loads on the sewer system and contributes to climate adaptation.

Functional, accessible and future-oriented

The swimming pool features an officially certified competition pool with a modern digital timing system. The movable floor, spanning the full 25-metre length (two lanes wide), provides maximum flexibility for different user groups.

Accessibility has also been a key focus: the complex is fully equipped for visitors with disabilities, including tactile information panels and a removable slide specially designed for wheelchair users.

More than just a swimming pool
In addition to the competition pool, the sports complex also includes a sports hall. This is equipped with electrically adjustable basketball hoops and has a clear height of 5.5 metres, making it suitable for both training sessions and recreational use.

The hall is almost entirely finished in wood, with wooden ceilings, beams and walls, creating a warm and natural atmosphere. The sports hall is fitted with underfloor heating and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery – a conscious choice, as buildings of this type often rely solely on openable windows. This makes the hall both more energy-efficient and more comfortable for its users.

Digital precision

The entire design and construction process was digitally prepared and coordinated using BIM. This ensured not only a high level of architectural precision, but also earned the project a nomination for “Best BIM Project” in the sustainability category by BIM Championships, an annual German competition in which innovative construction projects are evaluated on their use of BIM.

A blueprint for future projects

With green roofs across all buildings, a stainless-steel pool basin offering a higher reuse potential than traditional concrete pools, and a streamlined construction period of just 13 months, this project serves as an inspiring example for other municipalities. It shows that sustainability, speed, and quality can go hand in hand – provided the right design choices and partners are selected from the very beginning.

Tailored facilities
The building is fully adapted to the diverse needs of its students. It includes:

• 43 classrooms and group spaces for special primary and secondary education, as well as after-school care
• Therapy and treatment rooms
• Swimming pool with movable floor
• Sports hall
• Two playrooms that together form a gymnasium
• Soft play area
• Sensorimotor and exercise room

Sustainable, future-oriented, and circular
The building meets the highest standards for sustainability and energy performance:

• Gas-free, equipped with heat pumps and thermal energy storage
• Excellent airtightness and insulation
• Prefabricated concrete system, fully demountable and reusable
• Solar panels, LED lighting, and heat recovery ventilation
• Energy Neutral Building

Smart and rapid realisation

From the outset, a fixed construction method was adopted, using a grid of 3.6 metres by 7.2 metres. This early integration created stability and clarity in the design and provided significant advantages during execution. Thanks to the use of BIM (Building Information Modelling), design and construction were transparent and efficient, with structural and installation systems optimally aligned, minimising construction errors.

Targeted choices were also made to accelerate the building process, such as using temporary roofing to quickly make the building watertight, applying electrical installations as surface-mounted rather than recessed, and using additives in cement screeds to shorten drying times.

By applying Lean Construction methods, including pull planning and Concurrent Engineering, the project was completed in an impressive construction time of approximately 7 months.

A modern learning environment in a unique setting

Bedford Greenacre Independent School in Bedford is a purpose-built all-through school offering places for 750 students, including 80 in the Sixth Form. Situated on an elevated site overlooking the Ouse Valley, the campus has been carefully positioned to maximise natural views and create a calm, inspiring environment for learning.

Campus design and layout

The school is composed of distinct buildings for pre-school, junior, and senior students, alongside a central specialism block and a sports hall. At the heart of the development lies a spacious atrium that brings natural light deep into the building and serves as a social and educational hub.

Flexible and future-proofed facilities

The school includes 36 classrooms, 6 flexible teaching spaces, 4 outdoor terrace areas, and 18 specialist rooms tailored for subjects such as science, IT, cooking, music, and art. A dedicated Sixth Form study area supports independent learning, while shared facilities like a performance hall, library, sports hall, and commercial kitchen-equipped dining space enhance the school’s offering.

Outdoor spaces for learning and play

Outdoor facilities include a multi-purpose outdoor space for open-air lessons and dining, as well as sports pitches and courts for rugby, football, cricket, athletics, netball, and padel — promoting active learning and well-being.

The project was procured under the UK Leisure Framework with Alliance Leisure. Pellikaan became involved from RIBA stage 3 to develop the Warsop Health Hub scheme to the next stages in partnership with Roberts Limbrick Architects, Furness Partnership (structural engineer) and CGP (MEP consultant), who were already involved in the project early on.

The centre features a state-of-the-art gym with the latest equipment and a 15 x 8 metre swimming pool. The pool is equipped with a child-friendly splash zone with various play elements. There is also a multi-purpose sports hall with movable partition that provides space for various sports and group activities. Outside, a MUGA court has been provided.

At Warsop Health Hub, accessibility is key. The building is fully designed with the needs of disabled people in mind. Visitors benefit from step-free access, lifts and a specially equipped toilet, so that everyone feels comfortable and welcome. From the café, the central point of the building, you can see all the main sports functions at once, encouraging visitors to exercise – seeing exercise, makes you exercise!

What really sets Warsop Health Hub apart is the high level of finishing. The municipal building exudes a luxury private club feel.

We reduced environmental impact and the hub was designed as a full-electric building with a highly efficient building fabric and installations such as Air Source Heat Pumps. To ensure the long-term sustainability of the new centre, solar panels have been installed along with an attenuation basin, as part of Severn Trent’s sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) programme.

This project is a valuable addition to the Warsop community and reflects our commitment to sustainability, inclusivity and quality. What is special about this project is that we were able to deliver it three months early. We are very proud of the final result!

We started with the sports hall on 9 January 2023 and it was ready for use on 15 July 2023. We then demolished the old sports hall in August and then started building the school, which was officially inaugurated on 18 June 2024.
The building has a total of 14 classrooms for about 300 pupils. There is also a childcare facility in the building. The school has an area of 2,096 m² and the sports hall is 991 m².

The school is linked to the sports hall, so children can walk through to the gym from inside. The building is also very sustainable, thanks to heat pumps and PV panels on both the school and sports hall roofs. The school is partly sound-absorbing, partly fitted with underfloor heating and the ventilation is CO2-controlled. Of course, LED lighting has also been used.